The general term for dry atmospheric suspensoids, including dust, haze, smoke. and sand. Compare to hydrometeor.

NEXt Generation RADar. A NWS network of about 140 Doppler radars operating nationwide.

A small, limited-capacity central processing unit contained entirely on one semiconductor chip.

film hygrometer element-An electrical hygrometer element constructed of a plastic strip coated with a film of carbon black dispersed in a hygroscopic binder. Variations in atmospheric moisture content vary the volume of the binder and thus change the resi ...

A device for measuring the river stage. Also called stream gauge.

A type of cyanometer. an instrument used to measure the blueness of the sky. The Linke-scale is simply a set of eight cards of different standardized shades of blue. They are evenly numbered 2 to 26. The odd numbers are used by the observer if he or she j ...

The difference between temperature measurements taken at two significant levels above the ground. Temperatures at 10 and 40 meters are commonly used.

See hurricane beacon.

A line of equal or constant temperature.

A rain gauge which is placed under trees or foliage to determine the rainfall in that location. By comparing this catch with that from a rain gauge set in the open. the amount of rainfall which has been intercepted by foliage can be determined.

Any conventional barometer fitted with an extended scale so that atmospheric pressure measurements may be made at both high and low altitudes.

Precipitation of white, opaque, spherical or conical ice particles that are crisp and easily crushed and that have diameters of 2 to 5 mm.

Generic term for rapid variations in apparent position, brightness, or color of a distant luminous. object viewed through the atmosphere.

See foehn.

Interational thermometric scale on which the freezing point of water equals 0

The elevation of the water surface in a stream as measured by a river gauge with reference to some arbitrarily selected zero datum.

Old snow that has become granular and compacted as a result of melting and refreezing.

Graduated fixed stake used in regions of abundant snowfall to facilitate the measurement of snow depth.

A measure of the amount of "spin" (or rotation) in the atmosphere.

Very small precipitation drops (diameters less than 0.5 mm) that appear to float with air currents while falling in an irregular path. Unlike fog droplets, drizzle falls to the ground.